[ConcernedCitizen]

The popular app known by TikTok or Douyin (ByteDance) is #1 in the world this year.

Update: Read further down the thread. The title is somewhat misleading.

In 2020 the video-sharing platform was ranked #7. Now, it's dethroned Google, followed by Facebook (Meta), Microsoft and Apple. This is a disturbance in the force.

Regardless, Google is well aware of TikTok's dominance. The site has been looking to become increasingly focused on video and audio as the internet moves away from content people can read and toward content people can see or hear. Platforms like TikTok, Instagram and podcasts have largely led that shift.

TikTok's popularity also shows just how much people trust it.

Which is also very disturbing. When you consider this is an app banned previously in the military and in the US (it was short lived), and it has numerous privacy concerns which were raised by security researchers and government entities, younsort of have to wonder why it's still so popular?

Also concerns have arisen that, since the platform was almost bought by Microsoft in the US, but was eventually partnered with Oracle, the cloud service provider - it begs another question: where is the company and the platform heading? It's clearly already marketed towards young users. It's also clearly a sink for data and privacy maladies, none of which have remotely been alleviated since the partnership.

In October of last year, a TikTok executive refused to tell Congress whether the Chinese government could access American users' data and the truth is that,even if it isn't intentional, it is starting to seem more like an operation to collect data as each day passes. Concerns aren't being eradicated as they should have been late 2019, and entire countries have outright sued TikTok for not providing transparency with its privacy policies. Where does it end? When will people wake up and see that this is not a video-sharing platform we can trust, and that it's destroying transparency?

My faith is dwindling.

[Boudica]

This is a good thing to talk about. Unfortunately, millions of its users will either turn blind eyes or be ignorant about this. It's a highly addictive and volatile platform.

I'm familiar with some individuals who use the platform as part of their business. They talked about how they would love to drop the platform as it's shit (both ethically and it's an absolute tragedy to work with as a social media platform), but it's insane popularity mean businesses sponsor them for content, and it would be a major cut to their income if they stopped. In essence: They're stuck working on a questionable platform, that isn't showing signs of dying, yet.

[ConcernedCitizen]

This is a good thing to talk about. Unfortunately, millions of its users will either turn blind eyes or be ignorant about this. It's a highly addictive and volatile platform.

I'm familiar with some individuals who use the platform as part of their business. They talked about how they would love to drop the platform as it's shit (both ethically and it's an absolute tragedy to work with as a social media platform), but it's insane popularity mean businesses sponsor them for content, and it would be a major cut to their income if they stopped. In essence: They're stuck working on a questionable platform, that isn't showing signs of dying, yet.

I don't remember if I said it in the post but my workplace does not allow it on premises stating privacy concerns. There's actually a clause for it in the employee handbook: "Absolutely no devices (e.g., cellular phones, tablets, computers, etc.) with TikTok on them are allowed in gathering areas such as break room, administration offices and especially not in the board room or supervisor office due to concerns of in the areas of both data and privacy. This includes proprietary information on technologies and equipment we employ."

[mothered]

I don't remember if I said it in the post but my workplace does not allow it on premises stating privacy concerns. There's actually a clause for it in the employee handbook: "Absolutely no devices (e.g., cellular phones, tablets, computers, etc.) with TikTok on them are allowed in gathering areas such as break room, administration offices and especially not in the board room or supervisor office due to concerns of in the areas of both data and privacy. This includes proprietary information on technologies and equipment we employ."

Interesting.

How can they possibly check and actively monitor each device, particularly personal cell phones? I assume It's a matter of employee trust In the workplace.

[ConcernedCitizen]

I don't remember if I said it in the post but my workplace does not allow it on premises stating privacy concerns. There's actually a clause for it in the employee handbook: "Absolutely no devices (e.g., cellular phones, tablets, computers, etc.) with TikTok on them are allowed in gathering areas such as break room, administration offices and especially not in the board room or supervisor office due to concerns of in the areas of both data and privacy. This includes proprietary information on technologies and equipment we employ."

Interesting.

How can they possibly check and actively monitor each device, particularly personal cell phones? I assume It's a matter of employee trust In the workplace.

Phones are allowed in the work area but not allowed in certain sections. I can't describe the layout. Employees have so far not complained about the rule and most of my colleagues agree that TitTok is bad anyway.

[mothered]

Employees have so far not complained about the rule and most of my colleagues agree that TitTok is bad anyway.

If I was part of the workforce, I'd also be In full support of the company's policy.

For obvious reasons, I've never been Into social networking right from the get-go, and never will.

[ConcernedCitizen]

Employees have so far not complained about the rule and most of my colleagues agree that TitTok is bad anyway.

If I was part of the workforce, I'd also be In full support of the company's policy.

For obvious reasons, I've never been Into social networking right from the get-go, and never will.

I believe that, in the very least, we, as professionals in our respective fields should distance ourselves. If not from social involvement then at the very least from the risk of getting into FOMO. I can't say that social media itself is toxic - but it is addicting and draws us into the feeling of inadequacy with our lives.

[mothered]

I can't say that social media itself is toxic

The platform Isn't, the way It's utilized, Is.

For Instance, In terms of Facebook, I cannot fathom why people publish their personal profile at the disposal of the entire globe. And then they wonder why Identities are stolen, wallets emptied and lives are ruined - they only have themselves to blame.

[fritz]

The popular app known by TikTok or Douyin (ByteDance) is #1 in the world this year.

In 2020 the video-sharing platform was ranked #7. Now, it's dethroned Google, followed by Facebook (Meta), Microsoft and Apple. This is a disturbance in the force.

This original news that got reposted everywhere is actually kinda bullsh*t, it's ranked 1st of top domains according to Cloudflare yes..
But it's apparently only about DNS requests, which doesn't mean much (microsoft.com and apple.com are respectively 4th and 5th in this ranking, which doesn't make much sense, it's obviously because of appstore & services requests, and netflix.com is above youtube.com!).
No secret tiktok is more and more popular, but would be better to base those claims on real meaningful data (like watch time or something?)

(of course I don't blame you, I blame the brainless journalists mostly ^^)

[Bricker]

How can they possibly check and actively monitor each device, particularly personal cell phones? I assume It's a matter of employee trust In the workplace.

My company has a similar policy to @vittring, but its mostly trust based with the threat of immediate termination and the possibility of legal action. Not a perfect system, but they pay well so most employees are happy to oblige. I absolutely cant stand TikTok (or social media in general), so I have no problem with this.